Thank you for those who reviewed. I hope you like the rest. It will be a couple more days before I add another chapter after this one. Finals for school suck. But I promise that I will try and add at least one new chapter a week. Two if I have time. :) Thanks again for reviewing and keep it up.
Nearly a week had past since she had last seen Lancelot and the others and Lillian was beginning to feel the longing of their voices. Of his gentle embrace. She half expected to wake up and find this all to be a dream and find herself next to him. To see him give her that mischevious grin that made all of her troubles melt away. But every time she woke her dream ended and she found herself miles away and only to go farther away.
"Lillian, are you okay?" Ellaine asked as she rode alongside.
"What?" Lillian answered her voice far off.
"You haven't spoken much since we left Hadrians Wall. Is everything okay?" Ellaine asked again. Her green eyes searching her friends.
"Oh. Nothing is wrong. I'm fine." Lillian looked to the woman who rode along side her. They had been through training as knights from the beginning and had always looked out for one another. Told each other their fears. Thier joys, but right now the only thing Lillian wanted is to be alone for a while. To seperate herself but, in her heart she knew that Ellaine would not relent and she knew Lancelot would not want her to isolate herself. After all that is what he loved about her. Her ability to adapt to situations and to keep going no matter what.
"You are a terrible liar you know that." Ellaine answered knowing where and with whom Lillians thought lay. "We will all see them again. Lancelot will be fine." Reaching a hand out she laid it upon Liilians shoulder in an attempt to get through to her.
"I know." A small smile broke upon her face. Looking up she peered through the dense treetops to the sky above which was already starting to grow dark with the approaching night.
"Besides, I thought you would be the tinest bit happy to return home after being gone so long."
"The post is not my home. I was taken from my home as were we all and when I found the smallest bit of happiness in god forsaken war I get taken away from it again. No, I am not happy to return but I dont really have a choice now do I." Lillian responded bitterly. Ellaine looked at her friend with sorrow filled eyes. "I am happy that they are all safe though and I am happy that the others will see their loved ones when we return."
"We shall rest here for the night and start off again early in the morning." Caius announced. The Roman Commanders voiced boomed over the sounds over the forest. Lillian and the other had worked under him since they started, he always thought because he was roman and they were sarmatian he was better, but when it came to the fighting they were the ones who went in first while he waited for the action to die down before he joined in. No he was not her favorite but she kept to herself. Just what she needed, to make her last eight years a living hell. "Lillian, take another and scout the peremeter. The rest of you shall set up the camp."
As quickly as they could Lillian and Axel made their way through the trees but, the denseness of the wooks made it difficult for them on horseback and slowed them to a walk. The smell of the pines and the flowers that marked its ground filled the air.
"I do not like this place. Its too enclosed, especially with the size of our party. We won't be able to see an enemy until they are practically on us." Axel spoke. His voice broke above the sound of leaves breaking under their weight as he searched through the trees.
"I agree." Lillian answered quietly. "But we are almost to our post, we should be fine."
"Fine? You havent heard of the rumors have you?" Axel asked suprised that she of all people had not heard.
"What rumors?" Lillian prodded. Axels voice had caught her attention and a slight dread pained her heart.
"Then again your mind is not in the present. What do you expect?" He answered toying with her.
"Axel! What rumors!" She spoke, now agitated by his sarcasm.
"From what I have heard, keep in mind its only what I have heard, for all I know it is false but.. it is said that Caius recieved a letter prior to our leaving Hadrians Wall." Axel said, his voice calm and serious.
"I already know that. It was a letter recalling us to out post because we were no longer needed at Hadrians Wall." Lillian answered feeling quite stupid for getting worked up over nothing.
"True it was a letter recalling us, but from what I hear it is because our own post may be falling under attack within a few weeks. The rumors say we were recalled because of the threat to our post, not because Hadrians Wall no longer needed us." Axel answered his dark eyes searching her blue.
"Where did you hear this?" Lillian asked the light haired Knight.
"Like I said it is just a rumor but, it does explain a lot. Especially the actions of Caius and the other Roman leaders. You would have heard it to if you would stop retreating to the past." He said, his last words hung accusingly at Lillian.
"A rumor and nothing else. You have no evidence and as for my state of mind and what Iam thinking, that is none of your concern." Her voice riled with frutration and anger though she knew he was right. She should be in the present.
Her companion looked at her with understanding eyes. "I know what it is like to lose a loved one, or did you forget that when we left for Hadrians Wall I left my love behind at our post. I do not mean to hurt you or dig up your pain but, all I ask is that you ask yourself a few questions. Why did we bring so many reinforcements. We were only seven when we left, now we are more than double. Why bring the extra men? And why do we travel like we do, until the sun sets and then start off before the sun rises the next morning? I do not need the thoughts of rumors to know that something is wrong for us to move so quickly."
His question caught her off guard but as she let them sink in she began to think he was right. Something was wrong. They had traveled through this land before and never with more than they needed. That was why only half of the Knights would be gone at any time.
"What ever it is something is wrong. Caius had been acting strangely but I thought it was only because we were returning home. Whatever it is, I hope you are wrong." Liilian answered. The wind howled around them. Inhaling deep Lillian caught an unusual sent. "Do you smell that...it smells like...fire. "Looking to the sky Lillian saw a faint smoke cloud reach to the sky. "Axel."
The young man looked to where she directed. "We never build fires that big, it draws too much attention." Urgency laced his words. "Lillian." He said looking to her.
"The camp!" As quickly as they could the turned their mounts around and raced to the camp.
'I wish the others were here.' Lillian thought to herself.